Sean Thackrey: Pleasure Architect

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Synopsis Budget Project's Financial Needs Other Financial Support Current Stage of Production Estimated Completion Date Background

Synopsis

This film exclusively profiles one of the most interesting people in the wine world today: the ferociously intelligent, independent and often irreverent wine-maker Sean Thackrey.

Sean Thackrey is a creator of pleasures. Our feature documentary follows this former international art dealer turned iconic artisan wine-maker through a busy harvest season at Thackrey and Co., exploring the creative process, craftsmanship and the power of art in all its forms.

Budget:

$ 125,000.00

Project's Financial Needs

Funds will be used for editing and finishing, including salary costs, music licensing fees, sound editing, upconversion and festival/marketing costs.

Other financial Support

Production has been possible because of in-kind donations of time, resources and equipment by the film's producers and directors.

Current stage of production

Post-Production

Estimated Completion Date

03/31/2010

Background

Sean Thackrey makes stunning, slap-you-in-the-face-they're-so-spectacular robust red wines on a tiny peninsular just north of San Francisco. I first read about Sean in a magazine article; his unique, eccentric mix of creativity and craftsmanship struck a chord. I saved the article and found a bottle of his signature wine Orion in Los Angeles for my partner Mike's 40th birthday. On that day, heady from this phenomenal bottle which knocked our socks off from the very first sip, we made noises about doing a film on Sean. He ultimately agreed to the project and we went up to do some shooting. The result was amazing footage; we realized we had a great story that deserved to be a feature film.

Chosen as one of GQ Magazine's Men of the Year in 2004, Thackrey is a former art dealer who began making wine in the mid-70s. His hard-to find wines have an almost cult following among wine enthusiasts; when a fire threatened to destroy a year's worth of Thackrey's wine, his most ardent fans offered money, stock and even tried to return their own bottles to keep his enterprise going. This film focuses on an extraordinary individual and a rare artisan; its central themes are immersion in the creative process, the architecture of pleasure and the power of art.

Alexandra Austin

Producer/Co-Director